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Skill Builders: Listening - Blogs: Fame and Fortune
Upper-Intermediate
Heads Up English- page 1
www.headsupenglish.com 
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1:
You will listen to an article about blogs and blogging. The article is about five and a half minuteslong. Listen only, and don't worry about understanding everything.
Step 2:
Look at the questions. Read and understand them, then listen again. As you are listening, try toanswer the questions in your head. Don't write the answers yet. Next, listen again and write the answersthis time. Compare your answers with a partner.
Step 3:
Read the article. Check in your dictionary any unknown words. Now listen again. Can youunderstand more?
Step 4:
Listen! Listen! Listen! Listen to the article on the train or in your free time. Each time you listen,you will slowly improve!
QUESTIONS
Answer the questions to check comprehension. If you don't know an answer, don't worry. Skip it.Then listen again.
1. How and when did blogs begin?2. What has happened to blogs since then? Why?3. According to the article, how many blogs are there?4. What are some usual topics covered by bloggers?5. According to the article, how do blogs differ from traditional mass media?6. As mentioned in the article, what are some reasons for writing a blog?7. How much money do most people make from blogs?8. How much do the top 10% of bloggers make?9. What industry has sprung up about blogging for money?10. What is the author's opinion in the final paragraph?
 
Skill Builders: Listening - Blogs: Fame and Fortune
Upper-Intermediate
Heads Up English- page 2
www.headsupenglish.com 
the ARTICLE
Blogs began as online diaries and journals back in the mid-1990s. The new format seemed a natural shift from oldtechnology to new, in this case from pen and paper to theInternet. Since then, blogs have exploded in popularity, aspeople continue to experiment with the newcommunication medium. The word, short for web log, hasbecome part of the English language as both a noun andverb, and was word of the year in 2004. A blog writer isbetter known as a blogger.At present, it's estimated that more than 100 million blogs regularly receive new content,usually articles, from their authors. There are more blogs out there, though, which have beenabandoned and no longer get updated. Bloggers don't limit their topics to everydayexperiences and thoughts like old-fashioned diaries. They write about business, politics, travel,current events, and so on. Some people even write about writing a blog! Many of the online journals mix videos, music, art, and photos with the written content, too, creating a veryunique sensation for the visitor.Blogs have begun to influence society in recent years, and some sites and bloggers havebecome household names. Bloggers often pick up news stories that traditional mass mediaignores. They share the news with their readers, who then spread the news to other sites,bulletin boards, and social networks. As the information spreads across the Internet, massmedia eventually joins in. Newspapers, radio, and TV broadcast the story. Bloggers haverevealed political scandals, as well as secrets about companies, industries, and Hollywoodcelebrities. Bloggers have even disproved news stories from traditional media sources.With blogs a part of mainstream society, it shouldn't come as a surprise that people makemoney from blogging. Although most people write for personal reasons, others seek cash,fame, or some combination of the two. Most people who blog for bucks earn only $100 or lessper month. In fact, 10% earned less than thirty-three cents per day, which equals a cup ofcoffee and a dozen doughnuts at the end of the month. However, on the opposite side ofsuccess, 10% of bloggers raked in more than $10,000 per month. And the very top bloggers,who may run several sites, claim to earn more than one million dollars per year!As can be expected, another industry has sprung up around blogging for bucks. There arewebsites and blogs devoted to teaching anyone how to make money through blogging.Courses, seminars, and personal one-to-one coaching make it sound easy to quit the office for afulltime income online. There are over 75 million hits for the phrase "blog for money."The hope of easy money has always lured people. Fame has been similarly powerful.Blogging is still a new idea, so many people don't realize the difficulty and dedication required.Only the very best and the very lucky get rich or enjoy name recognition. All other bloggersmust be content with smaller forms of success.
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